Chrisohoou, Gold Selection, Xinomavro, Greece

Posted on January 27, 2021 by richardgore1200

Greece is not known with the great unwashed for great red wine and most people don’t know that they make wine but that is to the benefit of those that search a little and have open eyes.

Its a solid red colour, dry with decent tannins and shows that the greeks can make pretty good wine, aromas and flavours of red and black fruits, plums, redcurrant and blackberry with hints of herbs and spices with a smoothness that makes this a joy to drink.

Well done to the wine maker, our Christmas meal main wine was excellent.

Chrisohoou, Gold Selection, Xinomavro, Greece

Lynx, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, 2017, California, USA

Posted on January 25, 2021 by richardgore1200

California wine is pretty good in general and this Lynx Petite Syrah, Zinfandel is very good example of a very drinkable red wine. A good deep red in colour with aromas of red fruit and hints of smoke and oak. There are flavours of red and black fruits, strawberry, berry, plum, blackcurrant and its very well rounded.

Soft, fresh with decent length and so easy drinking, Great and its only £7

Lynx, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, 2017, California, USA

Lynx, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, 2017, California, USA

Saint Clair, Pioneer Block, Pinot Gris, 2014, New Zealand

Posted on January 21, 2021 by richardgore1200

Pinot Gris is not a grape name that many go too, esp over Pinot Grigio but this Pioneer Block from Saint Clair show why this ia great white wine and why New Zealand is getting a reputation for excellent wines. Pinot Gris is Pinot Grigio, the difference is style where Pinot Gris is full on flavour as Pinot Grigio is full on necking, at least in the UK!

Its fragrant flowery aroma wine with flavours of ripe fruit, pear, melon with a richer, oily texture than found in many white wines. Its a wine to sip or to have with cheese in from of the fire.

At £13.50 a bottle its not cheap but but pretty good, one for a special occasion.

Saint Clair, Pioneer Block, Pinot Gris, 2014, New Zealand

Cave du Vendômois, Chant’ Grives, Coteaux du Vendômois, France

Posted on January 16, 2021 by richardgore1200

The Loire Valley produce a ton of wine and this Chenin Blanc is a little different to the mass produced wines.

There are aromas of flowers and pear with flavours of ripe fruit, hints of pineapple and lemon. I love the orange hint in the colour, well maybe a bit more than a hint. Its a medium style wine that is a front of fire,comforty chair wine. At £7 a bottle very good value.

Cave du Vendômois, Chant’ Grives, Coteaux du Vendômois, France

Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Posted on January 14, 2021 by richardgore1200

I’ve tried a few mexican wines and they have generally been good bt I can’t figure out if I like this Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah or not. Its a bit like the chinese wines I’ve tried, a little one dimensional but not necessarily in a bad way, just different to what you may get in a french Syrah.

This is fruit driven, loads of blackcurrant with a little blueberry and herbaceous notes. Its like an adults Ribena with a little twist. Its dry and in your face but with a lump of red meat its OK.

Just because it comes from an area that you may not associate with wine making is not reason to write a wine off, this is a good example. Not great but not bad either. At £45 a bottle its way over priced though.

Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Crossroads, Milestone Series, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

Posted on January 11, 2021 by richardgore1200

There’s lots of New Zealand Pinot Noir out there, some cheap and some expensive and this Crossroads, Milestone Series is a cheaper one, under £10 a bottle. It dry, pretty smooth, light with aromas of redcurrant, tobacco hints that are followed by flavours of strawberries and hints of plum and vanilla.

It’s what you would have mid week or as a second bottle at an evening dinner party. It’s nice but not excellent.

Crossroads, Milestone Series, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

Tbilvino, Khvanchkara, 2016, Georgia

Posted on January 8, 2021 by richardgore1200

Tbilvino, Khvanchkara from Georgia is an interesting red wine, its meant to be sweet but personally I think its medium red but what really hits you is the jaminess and red fruit, its got a massive amount of flavour, redcurrant, strawberry, cherry, its amazing the amount in there.

I had this over a few evenings and it did grow on me, apparently Stalin enjoyed this wine!

Tbilvino, Khvanchkara, 2016, Georgia

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

Posted on January 4, 2021 by richardgore1200

What is wrong with wine from Mexico? nothing or that should be the case as there are areas in the country that suited to making wine. This Syrah is red wine! its dry and fruity, lots of plum, cherry and thats for the first 3 seconds before – nothing. Its like half a polo mint, decent hit of flavour, then you get to the hole where it disappears and then still nothing. Its not like there’s another chance.

its not bad its just not around long enough, I’ve never had a wine like this before, so for me its interesting.

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

Posted on January 1, 2021 by richardgore1200

This Italian sparkling DOCG wine from La Montina is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.Its a very well crafted wine, very small bubbles, its dry and fresh with ripe fruit rather than a heavy dollop yeasty notes that you would get from Champagne.

We had it with Oysters and dressed crab, the acidity and flavour complimented the food and I did prefer it to Champagne. Well worth the £25 a bottle if you want something as good as the french can produce.

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

Denbies, Cubitt Reserve, 2010, UK

Posted on December 31, 2020 by richardgore1200

Denbies make a lot of wine, sparkling and still and do it well. This is made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, your traditional grapes for Champagne. Dry and crisp with medium acidity and clean tasting with aromas and flavours of lemon, green apple and vanilla. Yes there’s yeasty notes but there’s more to it and its refreshing, bringing you back for glass after glass, unless your wife says stop!

Its at a similar price at Champagne its a better bet for me.

Denbies, Cubitt Reserve, 2010, UK

The accidental drinker

Wine talk and reviews by an accidental drinker

Author Archives: richardgore1200

Chrisohoou, Gold Selection, Xinomavro, Greece

Lynx, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, 2017, California, USA

Saint Clair, Pioneer Block, Pinot Gris, 2014, New Zealand

Cave du Vendômois, Chant’ Grives, Coteaux du Vendômois, France

Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Crossroads, Milestone Series, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

Tbilvino, Khvanchkara, 2016, Georgia

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

Denbies, Cubitt Reserve, 2010, UK